Loose-leaf binder



May 21, 1929.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 27,1925

Azrcmvsvsf III Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C..MILLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO B: C. MILLER COM- PANY, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER. V

" Application filed November 27, 1925. Serial No. 71,711.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders of that type in which the haves a removably secured between adjustable side'covers.

In binders of this type, it is customary to provide bindings posts which extend through perforations formed in the leaves for holding the leaves in place. In order to permit the insertion or removal of the leaves, one of the covers is detachable from thepost ends, and heretofore it has been found quite difficult to quickly connect the cover to the posts to lock the parts together, due to the fact that three or four posts are used, and it is difficult to maintain the openings of the cover in alinement with the eyes of the posts to permit insertion of the locking pins.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a loose leaf binder in which the parts may be easily held in alined position to permit the insertion of the locking pins. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder in which the covers may be swung to open position a sufficient distance to expose the entire writing surface of the leaves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder in which the locking posts are engaged in progressive order in moving the pins to locking position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf book which is of simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved loose leaf binder and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of theloose leaf binder;

Fig. 2 is a detail View, on a larger scale, of the posts and the locking member;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view, on a large scale, of one of the binding posts;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view, on a large scale, of a portion of the binder showing the manner of forming the connection, the cover being'shown in closed position; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the cover shown in open position. 1

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 8 indicates the flexible back and 9 the side covers hinged thereto by flexible material 10, to permit the covers to be swung to open position. The inner sides of said covers have mounted thereon elongated hinge plates 11 to which the posts 12 are pivotally connected. The inner or pivotal edge portions of the plates are bent over outwardly to form tubular port-ions 13 of rectangular form in crosssection for receiving reciprocable locking members 14. The inner edge parts of the tubular portions are provided with spaced recesses 15 to receive the rounded and eyed ends 12 of the posts 12. The tubular portions are provided along the inner longitudinal edges of the recesses 15 with rearwardly extending guide or locating spaced stops 16 and 16 which straddle and closely fit the rounded ends of the posts to hold the ends of the posts in alinement. The reciprocal locking members 14 have'cut away portions 17 and locking pins 18 which are alined to extend through the eyes of the posts 12 to form pivotal connect-ions therewith. For convenience in locking and unlocking the posts, the reciprocable locking members at one end are bent at right angles to provide handles 19 which may be easily grasped to move the members to locked or unlocked position. In locking the posts it is only necessary to position the eyed post ends into the recesses 15 and then swing the cover to closed position and the guide lips 16 in swinging the cover will straddle and hold the ends of the posts so that when closed their eyes are in alinment with the pins 18 of the locking members, and it is only then necessary to push inwardly on the angled ends to lock the posts to the cover.

To permit the covers to open to horizontal position, the rear side portions of the posts adjacent the edges are recessed or notched as indicated by the numeral 20 to accommodate the lips 16 when the covers are turned to open position and which notches also first assist in aligning the posts.

The outer leaves of the binder are preferably provided with angular reinforcing strips 21 through which the posts 12 extend. Stop pins 22 engaged by portions of the locking members limit the outward movement of the said locking members.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the locking pins 18 progressively engage the eyed ends of the posts and that the pins are pointed to more easily enter the eyes of the posts. The progressive engagement is provided by making the pin 18 and the cut out portion 17 nearest to each handle the longest and t ien progressively reducing the length of each pin and cut-away portion, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, so that the pin nearest to the handle will engage the eye of the first portion and when partly entered, the next pin will enter the eye of the second post and thus continue until all of the posts are engaged.

From the foregoing description it Will bev ing and locating the adjacent eyed ends of the posts after they have entered the recessed portions, and a reciproeable locking member carried by the hinge plate and having projectingportions for entering the eyed ends of the posts to pivotally connect the eyed ends to the plate.

2. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of spaced covers, eyedand recessed posts connected to one of the covers and extending to positions adjacent the other cover, a hinge plate mounted on said last mentioned cover and having a tubular edge portion formed with spaced recesses and spaced stops projecting 'rearwardly from said recessed portions for guiding, locating and alining the adjacent eyed ends of the posts after they have entered the recessed portions, and a reciprocable locking member positioned Within the tubular edge portions of the plate and having pin portions which enter the adjacent eyes of the posts to ,pivotally connect the posts therhinge plate.

3. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of spaced covers, hinge plates mounted on each cover and having tubular edge portions formed with spaced recesses and spaced stops projecting rearwardly from said recessed portions, posts having eyed end portions which are limited in their relative movement and are guided'by the spaced stops as they extend into the recesses, and reciprocable locking members positioned within the tubular portions of the plates and having pin portions of varying lengths which enter the adjacent eyes of the posts to pivotallyconnect the posts to the hinge plates between the stops.

4:. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of spaced covers, eyed and notched posts connected to one of the covers'and extending to positions adjacent the other cover, a hinge plate mounted on said last mentioned cover and having a tubular edge portion formed with spaced recesses and side stops projecting rearwardly from the recessed portions of the plate for guiding, locating and alining the adjacent eyed and notched ends of the posts after they have entered the recesses to aline the eyes of the posts, and a reciprocable locking member positioned within the tubular portion and having pin portions of varying lengths which progressively enter the adjacent eyes of the posts to pivotally connect the posts to the plate. 7

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

HENRY C. MILLER. 

